The US Government has embarked on a major effort to increase domestic production of REE, including multiple executive orders and invocation of the Defense Production Act. Military applications include over 3,000 items that use rare earth elements (REE), including "laser targeting and weapons in combat vehicles." Civilian uses include electronics, magnets, medical imaging, fiber optics, batteries, among many other applications. Multiple studies show that REE are critical materials which have serious supply risks and economic importance. The EPA has published an overview of REE extraction and separation processes. The major problem is that REE production has environmental externalities.

REE separation is exceptionally difficult: "Producing rare earths economically is a problem of separation, not availability."